Benny Agbayani spent the previous six years in Japan before returning home to Hawaii to help teach high school students on Oahu, but he is back home with the Mets this weekend.

“This brings goose bumps because I haven’t been here for 10 years,” Agbayani said of his visit to Flushing, part of the Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi, along with Edgardo Alfonzo, John Franco, Mike Hampton, Rick Reed and Turk Wendell.

“The fans are awesome,” Agbayani said. “You hear it all here, but if you work hard and give them want they want, they’ll respect you.”

Same goes for the high school classroom. He’s working as an educational assistant, helping students in geometry, algebra and science classes at Mililani High. “I really wanted to help the kids of Hawaii,” he said.

Benny knows when he hits a home run.

“There was a kid in my geometry class, he was a senior and wasn’t doing any of his work,” said Agbayani, who blasted the game-winning homer for the Mets in Game 3 of the 2000 ALDS against the Giants. “We talked him into finishing up his work so he could graduate on time and make his parents proud and he actually did. The teacher was kind of amazed too, that he did it.

“At first it was kind of overwhelming,” Agbayani said. “I didn’t know the kids and I came in and it was like third quarter, it was a transition for me. I just needed to open my arms and reach out to them to show that the things they’re going through are the same things I was going through when I was in high school.

“It’s an everyday thing with these kids. Sometimes they come from broken households or it’s tough at home because the economy is bad in Hawaii now. A lot of times the kids don’t get the attention they want, so school becomes their comfort zone.”

The 30th-round draft pick played outfield four years with the Mets and went to the World Series in 2000. He hit the game-winning double in the team’s only win over the Yankees. Agbayani owns a .299 postseason average.

Fans loved “Benny and the Mets” because he was so human. Remember when Agbayani caught a fly ball with the bases loaded against the Giants and thought that was the third out? He gave the ball to a young fan in the stands, but there were only two outs. Agbayani raced back and got the ball. It was too late, the runners were awarded two bases and the Giants led, 2-1.

The Mets came back to win and Agbayani gave the boy a new baseball. It all worked out in the end.

“I tell the kids every day that I got where I wanted to be through hard work,” Agbayani said. “Just keeping my mind focused. If they do that, they will be successful also. Baseball was my goal, you might have different goals. I want you to have a comfortable life. To get an education is so important.”

Agbayani is a giving person.

“It comes from my parents and the way the people in Hawaii are. We’re just loving and fun and caring people,” he said.

Agbayani, 38, retired after last season after playing for Bobby Valentine’s Chiba Lotte Marines. Valentine could be the Mets’ next manager or could manage somewhere else, perhaps with the rival Marlins.

“I know he still has the desire to manage,” Agbayani said. “Hopefully someone gives him a shot. He’s a great manager, I learned a lot playing for him.”

Agbayani also keeps busy with family life. He and his wife have three children. He coaches his 9-year-old daughter’s softball team.

“Right now I’m just trying to teach them the fundamentals,” he said.

One day, Agbayani would like to get back to baseball, coaching at either the professional or collegiate level, but for now, he knows that coaching in the classroom is where he belongs.